River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-05-12


Then steps returned along the passage
crossed through the next room, an
stopped beside the door OF communities
ton, where a rap resounded.
miss Estabrook, have come back,
said a quiet voice.
"And the-the man?" asked Maud
breathless.
30, fancy he'll give you no NOR
/ trouble Judging from the groan
/ heard, as he beat retreat, he won
feel in spirits for any more of this busi
ness tonight. =
We've are very much obliged t,
you" stammered Maud, rather at los
what to say under the circumstances.
Not at all. II was pleasure to me
He was infringing on my rights, YOU
know"
Silence followed. broken by another
rap. Mrs. Estabrook, l am waiting
to be locked in again
do you really mean" begar
Maud.
Certainly | must insist, if you
please. I'll stay here till you give me
the word
BE quick, Maud" whispered Mrs.
Estabrook, very distrustful of this ex-
traordinary burglar. The man is
either a criminal or lunatic. Run and
turn the key, child. before he changes
his mind
Thus urged, the girl made another
sortie. Once more the key clicked in
the lock. their prisoner was heard to
cross the floor and then all was silence
again.
Not for long. however. Suddenly
there was a confused clamor at the out
side door, while the bell pealed loudly
through the house. Maud and her
mother sprang up and faced each other.
That man back again?' faltered
Mrs. Estabrook.
20. mamma. no.' said Maud reas-
suringly. A burglar would never ring
the bell. Why, its Toni she cried,
with sudden conviction. its my
brother come home. she repeated, as
a voice from the next room was heard,
with renewed proffers of assistance.
Tom it vas indeed. and very anxious
about the safety of the household As
the brother and sister met in the gray
of the early dawn he hastily explained
how, having called in to see Amelia,
she had given him no peace until he
promised to return at once TO The Viii
lows; how he had done so, IN some
vcXation at what he considered her
business, until everything had suddenly
been driven out of his mind by the sight
of blood-Stain on the piazza, At
which Maud shuddered, and was about
to relate her version of the nights adj
ventures. when Mrs. EstabroOk's voice
was heard in reproachful accents from
above. They FASTENED upstairs, and
found the poor lady inclined to Mysteries
1T being left alone, She began an IT.
coherent story, in which Peter and the
burglars were jumbled, to Toms utter
bewilderment.
but who winged the burglar. them"
he asked. WAS it YOU. Maudr'
.Hush-Sh-' breathed his mother,
with warming finger appraised. Hes
IN thefc, YOU KNOW
I'm there, why. thought you said
he was gone? And what on earth is
Peter in there for?"
NO. no, not Peter, the the burglar
The burglar Tom jumped up.
You don't mean you've trapped the
fellow9 Bravor' And he vas hurry
ing to the door. when his sister laid a
hand on his arm.
20, wait. Tom. she said. That is
the oldest part of it ALL" And she
told the tale of their strange guest. lit
doesn't seem like his being a burglar,
but don't think he can be in his right
mind, She concluded.
by Jove, should say not! Wan
ted to be locked up again? Why, the
man must be a first-class crank. Well,
I'll have look ut him.
He left the room, and the two women
heard the key turn i'm the lock. They
held their breath to listen, but all they
could distinguish in the next room was
a confused sound of voices and laugh
ter. Presently Tom came back, accom-
panied by the supposititious burglar.
MY mother and sister. Mr.. Folliott, y
said Tom, with wave of the hand and
a twinkle of the eve. Mother, this is
my friend Mr.. Folliott, who seems to
think there is some mystery that needs
clearing up. Go ahead, Folliot, your
turn frs" concluded Tom, with grin,
a. he dropped into a seat
Thereupon Mr.. Folliott explained
that. in the course of his pedestrian
tour, it occurred to him to look up a
friend who was making short stay
somewhere in that neighborhoOd. This
friends name was EstabroOk-George
Estabrook. not Tonne had not known
that Tom EstabrOok lived in that local
ity.
but you'd be likely to know it an
other time, put in Tom, with great en-
joyment.
Mr., Folliott. continuing, said that
his happening to mistake the place had
led to the whole subsequent comedy OF
errors. He apologized for having az
cepted their hospitality under false pre-
lenses. and remarked that he had made
several Intellectual efforts 10 place him
self in true colors, When he realized
the position, after being locked in, as he
felt convinced that his explanation,
would not be credited, he thought he
might rs well accept the situation with
what philosophy he could muster, until
the march of events should right him
again.
Now for our side. said Tom, when
the story was finished. Mother, where
is the fatal telegram The telegram
was produced and read aloud amid
much laughter. "IIow about that scar
FolIiott?' said Tom, with mock gravity
doesn't that need an explanation
The scar" answered Folliott, in the
same tone. lis all that remains of M
adventure | had some time ago. ] new,
er dreamed what an important part i
was going to play in the drama of my
life. and he glanced at Maud,
well. we'll call 1t quits if you Will,
said Tom. laughing. Il vote it an i'm
mense joke all around.
I'VE didn't think it such joke, diC
we. mammal said Maud, with LITTLE
air of veNation, as her part in the small
comedy came back to her with mOrtify
/ inc diStinctness,
"A Joke? o. no." cried Mrs. East
Brook. Really. Tom, it would soun'
better TO thank Mr.. Folliott for all h
did for Your mother and sister, and h
=,